As new innovations emerge and new trends sweep the pharmaceutical landscape, there is a constant battle for pharma professionals to keep ahead of the latest information. We spoke to Upperton’s Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laura Mason about the upcoming trends she sees emerging in the R&D lab. 

With a PhD in Pharmacy, and nearly a decade of Upperton experience behind her, Laura heads up Upperton’s R&D team ensuring the successful delivery of client programs. In this blog, Laura shares her perspective on the latest trends in R&D and looks at where drug developments might be heading next. 

Which areas of drug development are getting attention in the R&D lab?

“We’ve seen a lot of interest in novel devices for pulmonary or nasal delivery, which leverages on our previous experience delivering powders by these routes. There’s a growing interest in soft mist inhaler (SMIs) devices that deliver medication as a slow-moving aerosol, improving lung deposition and reducing oropharyngeal loss. In addition, we are seeing more devices targeting nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutics. So, we really see the nasal pulmonary area continuing to grow and develop.” 

Unlike traditional nebulizers, SMIs offer dose delivery within seconds, enhanced patient adherence, and the ability to deliver biologics and nanoparticles. 

“This interest in pulmonary SMIs builds into Upperton’s experience. Upperton originated in developing dry powders and has evolved into a full CDMO from that background. We’re really excited to see that the nasal-pulmonary axis continues to attract attention for its rapid absorption and non-invasive delivery potential.” 

Looking beyond Upperton, the global markets are also seeing a surge in inhalable, with the global pulmonary drug delivery market projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.08%, and to reach over $86.25 billion by 2030. Similarly, the global nasal market is expected to reach $49.7 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 6.7%. This is driven by steady technology gains, demographic aging and a global shift towards at-home respiratory care. 

What are some of the hurdles R&D teams are facing?

“We still see a continued interest in poorly soluble molecules and how we take those through development. At Upperton, we use the UpperSolvTM platform to look at different ways to improve bioavailability, trying to find the simplest approach to hit the client’s target solubility profile. 

There is still a need to develop new, critical and creative solutions for tackling ongoing solubility challenges. Despite technological progress, poor solubility remains one of the biggest hurdles in formulation science. Techniques like micronization, amorphous solid dispersions, and lipid-based formulations are increasingly used to address this challenge. The continued demand for strategies to improve bioavailability is especially for Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II 

and IV compounds, and 70–90% of drug candidates in development today fall into these categories. 

“Beyond the basic API, we’ve seen a lot of interest recently in producing nanosuspensions in order to improve bioavailability, so we are building our equipment and experience in things like microfluidics.” 

Microfluidic systems allow precise control over mixing and particle formation, enabling the development of nanoparticles, liposomes, and hydrogels with tailored properties. This technology is particularly valuable for hydrophobic drugs, where encapsulation and controlled release can dramatically improve therapeutic outcomes. Microfluidics also supports high-throughput screening and personalized formulation strategies, making it a powerful tool for next-gen drug development. 

What level of support can R&D teams offer to biotechs?

In R&D, scientists receive requests for varying levels of R&D support, emphasizing the need for agility and flexibility with clients. 

“Some clients want everything from us, guidance, decision-making, next steps. Others already have deep internal expertise, and we work closely with them as partners. A common misconception about R&D is that it is just about the science on the bench. In reality, there’s another layer which is more about how that science informs a biotech’s development strategy.” 

This adaptability is key. R&D scientists need to be able to develop excellent formulations on the bench, and ensure the formulation aligns with the organizational development strategy. 

What are some non-negotiables for clients?

Trust and Transparency are an essential component when delivering R&D projects. 

“We know this is especially when things aren’t going well. For early stage biotechs, a single compound may represent the entire pipeline. That makes honest dialogue about risks, challenges, and solutions essential.” 

Clients also value technical depth and layered expertise, and the ability to draw on multiple experienced perspectives within a team to make sound decisions. These perspectives are more likely to anticipate hurdles that could happen down the development pipeline and adjust the project accordingly.